Promotions to this rank were suspended in 1934, although existing Stabsgefreiter retained it; promotions resumed in 1942. Automatic after 5 years' service and 2 years as anObergefreiter if not yet an NCO.[9]

Unteroffizier-Anwärter (to 11/43)
Unteroffizier-Bewerber (from 11/43)

NCO candidate

Soldier selected for or attending Unteroffizierschule (NCO school); could be of any rank from Soldat through Stabsgefreiter

Senior non-commissioned specialist officers

In two specialist career paths it was possible to attain rank above Stabsfeldwebel: fortifications engineers (Festungspioniere) and farriers (Hufbeschlagschmieder).[13] They were actual NCO's with command authority, not Heeresbeamten (uniformed Army civil servants). There is no real Anglosphere equivalent; perhaps the closest would be the US non-commissioned Warrant Officer (WO1).